THE HIGHLAND SCOTS ELEMENT IN THE EARLY

SETTLEMENT OF ALABAMA

By THOMAS CHALMERS McCORVEY, LL.D.

There are perhaps few regions of the world, outside of the motherland of Scotland, where there can be found a larger proportion of population bearing the family names of the great Highland clans than in Alabama—especially in the southern and eastern parts of the State.

There is scarcely a county, or even a neighborhood, where one cannot find either Camerons, Campbells, Fergusons, Frasers, Gordons, Grahams, McDonalds, McKenzies, Mclntoshes, McLeans, McLeods, McNeills, McPhersons, McMillans, Stewarts or others with distinctly Highland names; for the names of the septs and dependents of the various clans were well nigh innumerable.

Difference between Scot Lowlanders and Highlanders

First, it may be well to indicate the main line of racial cleavage in the Scottish people—the difference between the mixed Lowlanders of the southern and eastern parts of the country, largely Saxon in blood, with a small later strain of the Norman feudal aristocracy; and the Highlanders of the western and northern parts who are chiefly Celtic in origin, with more or less of a Norse infusion.

As every one knows ethnology is still anything but an exact science, and with the constant flow and admixture of peoples no hard and fast racial lines can be laid down in this case; but for all practical purposes we can very well differentiate the thirfty (sic) Saxon Lowlander—who in business sagacity rivals even the Semite—from the romantic, chivalric Highlander who has been sometimes acclaimed the world’s best fighting man. It is the good fortune of the Highlanders that their clan and septal names enable them to keep track, in most cases, of their racial origin, while the Lowlanders frequently share their Saxon or mixed names with their English cousins across the border.

Hard Economic times sent Scots seeking new land

Hard economic conditions, as well as political and religious disturbances, have sent the Scots of every breed among the pioneers into many of the newer lands of the world: just as they were in a sense the path-breakers across the Isthmus—where now flows the great artificial channel of the world’s commerce—in the ill-starred “Darien Scheme”.

But there is one notable characteristic in their seeking new homes wherever they go. They do not segregate themselves from other peoples; but mingle their blood with earlier inhabitants, as they ultimately did after the plantation of Ulster. There are few if any Scotch “quarters” to be found in any of the world’s great cities; but whether as shrewd traders among savage tribes-as they first came ..to what is now Alabama—or as great captains of industry in an age of ‘steel, they cut a wide swath as individuals, and make their influence felt alike in frontier communities and in the centers of the world’s “big business “

McGillivray and Weatherford settled in area of Coosa and Tallapoosa

II.

The story has been fully told in that classic of State histories Pickett’s “Alabama”, how the daring youth, Lachlan McGillivray’ Charles Weatherford and other Scotch traders and adventurers pushed from the South Atlantic ports of Charleston and Savannah into the Creek Indian territory and established themselves in the region about the junction of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers—a story which will not be repeated here. However, it may be well to mention that McGilhvray in due time took to wife the French-Indian “princess” Sehoy Marchand, and his example was followed by others of his countrymen so that they have left to our own time many descendants, who have a dash of aboriginal blood, among the more substantial people of the State.

However, it may be well to mention that McGillivray in due time took to wife the French-Indian “princess” Sehoy Marchand, and his example was followed by others of his countrymen so that they have left to our own time many descendants, who have a dash of aboriginal blood, among the more substantial people of the State.

The Rebellion of 1745-6

But it was not trade or adventure, but a great political upheaval in the motherland that sent here-chiefly by way of North Carolina—the forbears of most of the numerous citizenry of Alabama who bear Highland names and of many others who, as a result of intermarriages, bear English or other names but have strains of the Highland blood That upheaval was the last serious attempt to restore to the British throne the exiled line of Stuart Kings and is known in English history as the “Rebellion of 1745-6,” or briefly “The Forty-five.”

In that memorable year Prince Charles Edward Stuart, known as The Young Pretender,” a grandson of James II who had been driven from the throne in the so-called “Bloodless Revolution of 1688 ” embarked from the coast of France in the hazardous attempt to gain for his father, James Stuart, “The Old Pretender,” his ancestral crown.

Prince Charles Edward Stuart

The French had promised aid; but great storms fought for the reigning House of Hanover (now the House of Windsor) and scattered the fleet that was to carry across the sea the French force of fifteen thousand men. But nothing daunted Prince Charles set out upon his mad adventure with only seven companions, trusting only to his personal charm and the magic of his family name to rouse the western Highlanders.

He finally landed on the shores of Moidart July 25, 1745. Among the first to espouse the venture was the young Chieftan of the Clan Ranald McDonalds, who overcome by the magnetism of the prince threw himself into his arms in a passionate offer of his life for the cause.

On the 19th of August the Stuart standard was raised in the vale of Glenfinnan and clan after clan rallied around it with all the devotion and enthusiasm portrayed in Thomas Campbell’s famous poem, “Lochiel’s Warning” With his Highland army the prince marched practically unresisted to Edinburgh which he entered in triumph.He occupied the old Holy Rood Palace; and proclaimed his father, “The Old Pretender,” King of Great Britain with the title of “James III.”

Holyrood Palace

He then marched out and at Prestonpans cut to pieces the army of General Cope who had been sent against him. After a delay, unfortunate for his cause, he started south to arouse and enlist the Lowlander and English “Jacobites,” as the adherents of the Stuart cause were known; but he met with a similar experience to that of General Lee in his Maryland Campaign of 1862—cheers, good wishes and patriotic songs, but few enlistments.

He pushed on to Derby, within a hundred and twenty-five miles of London; but was there forced to begin a disastrous retreat back through the border lands into the Highlands, where he was finally brought to bay at Culloden Moor, near Inverness, April 16, 1746.

There his little half-starved army of five thousand men was overwhelmingly defeated by the well-armed and well-fed English army of nine thousand men under the command of the Duke of Cumberland whose savagery in victory justly earned him the odious epithet of “The Butcher”.

An incident of the battle of Culloden well illustrates the prominent Celtic characteristics of pride and courage. Since the days of Bannockburn the McDonalds had always been given what was considered the post of honor in battle—the right wing of the Scottish army; but in planning his battle the prince had transferred the three McDonald regiments to the left wing. In resentment of what they considered an indignity offered their clan, they refused either to advance or retreat; but kept their ground, hewing with their claymores the heather at their feet and falling in their ranks from the enemy’s fire which they did not return.

After Culloden Prince Charles was hunted with bloodhound and bugle; but there was no Highlander base enough to betray him, in spite of an enormous reward offered for his capture. He finally made his way, after many thrilling adventures, back to France; but a fearful vengeance was wreaked upon his followers with indescribable barbarities.

After the sword and the torch and the gibbet had done their worst, Parliament passed an act, effective August 1, 1746, breaking up the clan system—disarming the Highlanders; forbidding them to wear the national garb except as soldiers in the British army; and establishing parochial schools with a view to rooting out the Gaelic language.

The hardest part was that no distinction was made between the clans which had fought or Prince Charles and those which had remained loyal to the House of Hanover. For instance the great Covenanting clan of the Campbells, which had supported George II, fell under the ban along with those who had rallied under the banner of the Catholic Stuarts. Here we have another parallel from our Civil War history. The Union slave-owners of the border States, who had enlisted in the Federal army and fought “to save the Union,” found at the close of the war that they had been fighting to destroy their own property in slaves, for which they never received any remuneration.

Under the proscriptions of Parliament many of the bravest and best of the Highlanders, whether they had been “out with Prince Charlie” or not felt that Scotland was no longer their home, and sought refuge beyond the seas. Permission was given them to settle in the American colonies upon the conditions of first taking an oath of allegiance to the reigning House of Hanover.

ALABAMA FOOTPRINTS Confrontation:: Lost & Forgotten Stories – Alabama Footprints Confrontation is a collection of lost and forgotten stories that reveals why and how the confrontation between the Native American population and settlers developed into the Creek-Indian War as well as stories of the bravery and heroism of participants from both sides.

Joan, all the names have become Americanized, so it’s difficult to tell, but the Mc names are usually Irish, while Mac’s are usually Scottish. My husband has McGuirk ancestors whose surname is Irish, but the same maternal line ( Rogers) is Scottish.

Aye! We’ve traced my ancestors back to Scotland. Visited this past summer and saw Houston Castle. Sadly, it’s been divided into apartments, but it still stands. Also, the Scottish people reminded me of fellow Alabamians, as they were so very social, kind and friendly. I hope to return some day.

Thanks for the article! I know my story. My Fathers family were MacGregors then changed their name to McGhee to avoid being killed. My Mothers family were from the borders of Scotland. Both families settled in Alabama where I’m from.

We have Wallace as a surname on the maternal side of our family and Mitchell on the paternal side. Here in northwest Alabama, and in the South in general, many of us follow the Scottish tradition of using the mother’s clan/family surname as first names for our sons, and even our daughters, to continue to keep the name in our family lineage. My three sisters and I kept our family surname, May, as our middle names once we married.

I have a McDaniel-Mohagn (This is spelled many ways) line from Marshall, Cherokee, DeKalb counties in Alabama. My grandparents lived on Sand Mountain. This came from my grandmother’s line. My grandfather had the last name Childers.

My great great grandparents married in Tallapossa County, Alabama. His name was James Mormon, born 1801,and hers Millie West, born 1808. James was born in NC to James Mormon and Agnes Jaweccer Split Log. I have linked her to Indians, Cornstalk, Pasmere Carpenter. I cannot connect to the West line other than her mother’s names of Mary West.

This article not a history of the Scots in Alabama it is a rehash of Culloden. It would have been interesting as well if you had expanded on the Indians trials and how the McGillvary’s and others protected the Indians, by encouraging them to deed their land making it possible for them to stay in Alabama because they legally owned their land. It would have been informative if you had followed the families history and not a long dead battle for the highlands except as a footnote. Of course if the book did, that would be nice to know.

Stewart… (Janice Stewart) My 2nd greatgrandfather Lanier Stewart was born in Craven Co, NC. Lanier and his family migrated to Pike Co AL where my greatgrandfather, grandfather and father were born. Lanier’s father was born in Scotland.

I, too, enjoy reading your blog. My family is a mixture of Scots, probably some Irish, and also Creek Indian. I have been studying the Scots in Scotland and in America for two or three years especially. We live in Florida, but have owned a tree farm in Alabama for thirty years. I have been tracing mine and my husband”s family lines for at least that long. My first novel WAITING DEER, which I published in May, 2016, deals with the Scots, African Americans, and Creek Indians who migrated to northwest Florida after the Civil War. Its sequel, titled CLEVE, I hope to have finished in a few months.

My ancestors of Scot or Scot-Irish lineage include the Kilgo’s & McGathys of Calhoun County. My wife’s ancestors were the McCain’s who came to what is now Clay County in the early 1830’s. The McCains migrated from the Carolina’s to Marion County, Tennessee, and then due south to what was then eastern Talladega County after the forced removal of the Creeks. They settled near a Creek village named “Old Town” near what is now Lineville, Alabama. She has a copy of an original land patent signed by Martin Van Buren.

Archibald McNeil was my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather. I remember hearing that he was executed outside the Tower of London, which execution place I visited. My cousin, retired officer in air force intelligence, extensively researched on location this thread of family genealogy through many centuries.

When I googled A.M.`s name, it was linked to this website with a quote regarding passing of inheritance, but I was unable to find him named in this portion here reproduced.

We are excited here at AP. Our latest volume in our popular Alabama Footprints series has been released.

The eighth edition, BANISHED, documents The Indian Removal Act called for the “voluntary or forcible removal of all Indians” residing in the eastern United States to the west of the Mississippi River. Between 1831 and 1837, approximately 46,000 Native Americans were forced to leave their homes in southeastern states. Available in paperback and ebook at this link

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